Building a Computer Case From Scratch?

[MainStageNews]

I have started to fiddle around with this idea. I have been looking at cases alot but nothing is close to the "idea" that I have for a computer case. This idea is - ATX size motherboard tray, Horizontally mounted motherboard (i mean literally so the motherboard is pointing towards the ceiling), great for water cooling, fairly portable (which includes light weight and small), and windows on the left, right, and top sides so you can see the main components but nothing else (so for the left and right with a horizontally mounted mobo it would be like a half window. I was thinking for the material to make it all aluminum (unless you guys can think of another material that is more sturdy yet light weight). I may make something up in CAD but really the only things that I would be worried about is the little details like getting the atx mounting points perfect and bay drives (5.25 and or ssd/hdd mounting). If I took the time I thing it could really be something special also I may be able to buy motherboard trays (and maybe other stuff) from boutique case companies like mountain mods or CaseLabs. You guys think this would even be a good idea to try and could I get all of the materials for sub $200-$250? Like I said I think completely custom building a case could turn out amazingly but I havent seen a whole lot of people doing this (although some get a already produced case and highly modify it) and maybe thats I sign that I shouldn't attempt it at all... Please give me your thoughts :)

[Travianw135]

If you have the skills to work with aluminium and you can plan it out, sure. If I understand your description of the case, then look at the XSPC Hive H1 for some designs, or other similar cases. This site isn't exactly for CAD but it might be of some assistance, just have a browse or Google search for CAD files specifically. - [url=http://scc.jezmckean.com/cat/7]http://scc.jezmckean.com/[/url=http://scc.jezmckean.com/cat/7]

[SnypeUXD]

I would suggest buying a really cheap ATX case and cutting out the motherboard tray so you don't have to worry about the mounting holes. I would use Plexi for the windows. I think you're aiming for a Bitfenix Prodigy esque kind of case from what you're describing. I'm sure you can find some printable guidelines so you can make sure your mounting holes for your drives are the right size too. It's really up to you and in my opinion there aren't enough people doing DIY stuff (including me) and you should go for it. If it messes up, oh well, but that's part of the fun of DIY so good luck and I hope you make a build log for this cause I'll be really interested in how it turns out.

[MainStageNews]

If you have the skills to work with aluminium and you can plan it out' date=' sure. If I understand your description of the case, then look at the XSPC Hive H1 for some designs, or other similar cases. This site isn't exactly for CAD but it might be of some assistance, just have a browse or Google search for CAD files specifically. - [url=http://scc.jezmckean.com/cat/7]http://scc.jezmckean.com/[/url=http://scc.jezmckean.com/cat/7]

Thanks for that, i didnt even think about getting already made files to help me with the "sketch" i appreciate it and yes very similar to the xspc case except smaller and hopefully i could pick up all the material for under $250 vs probably playing at least over $500 after shipping with something like that

[MainStageNews]

I would suggest buying a really cheap ATX case and cutting out the motherboard tray so you don't have to worry about the mounting holes. I would use Plexi for the windows. I think you're aiming for a Bitfenix Prodigy esque kind of case from what you're describing. I'm sure you can find some printable guidelines so you can make sure your mounting holes for your drives are the right size too. It's really up to you and in my opinion there aren't enough people doing DIY stuff (including me) and you should go for it. If it messes up' date=' oh well, but that's part of the fun of DIY so good luck and I hope you make a build log for this cause I'll be really interested in how it turns out.[/quote']

Yeah the Prodigy is kind of the general design of the case. Thanks for the input even if I cant make a perfect case the first time around i could only make a better case the second time around :)

Also I would really like for the mobo tray to b able to slide out like the CaseLabs cases so I dont know if using a cut out mobo tray would be the greatest for that.